Back-tracking to 16 weeks

How far along: 16 weeks (from August 4, 2011)

Size of baby:

Photo Credit: The Bump

Interesting Facts: Week 15- Your little one is now roughly the size of an apple. She is about 4 inches long and weighs about 2 ½ ounces. Her legs are now longer than her arms and her bones are getting harder and stronger! At 15 weeks, her skin is still thin and transparent, but she has developed a thin layer of hair to help protect her body. This layer of hair is called lanugo and it is present on every part of your baby's body, even her finger nails! She is also moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract. This action helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. And even though her eyes will remain fused shut until approximately 26 weeks, she can actually sense light in your womb!
     Week 16- Your baby continues to be busy growing and developing inside of you. He's now about the size of an avocado^, measuring approximately 4 1/2 inches and weighing roughly 3 ounces. His heart is now pumping 25 quarts of blood every day and his bladder is emptying every 45 minutes.
     His limbs are even more developed and their movements have become increasingly coordinated. He doesn't have any hair yet but the patterning of his scalp has begun. What's in the future for your little one? A growth spurt is just around the corner! In the coming weeks he will double his weight and add inches to his frame.
     Credit: Planning Family

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Another pound a week or so for a total of ~8 lbs. People at work started commenting on my growing bump around Week 15. And a stranger asked me if I was pregnant- woo!

Maternity Clothes: Mostly regular tops, regular shorts (only 2 pairs still fit!), and maternity jeans.

Gender: We find out in 3 weeks!!!

Movement: I felt something here & there starting yesterday morning, Friday 8/5. They feel like "flicks" from inside, but almost tingly like a nerve... Baby, is that you?!

What I miss: Mexican queso dip.

Sleep: Is. Good... and lots of it!

Symptoms: Hungry-nausea continues. Itchy belly. Still some acne. Back/posterior hip pain.

Cravings: Seafood (fish). I need to branch out and learn to cook fish at home. Perry & I had lunch at The Mayflower earlier this week. If we're planning on eating out but need to decide where, he always asks me where I want to go... {and he is not crazy about The Mayflower.} So thoughtful!

Best moment of the week: Visiting Perry's sis, bro-in-law and our nieces in Concord to celebrate Little Lauren's birthday! We originally went on Sunday 7/31 but made it half way before the "Check Engine" and "VTM-4" lights came on in Perry's Mom's car. The dealership advised us to bring it in as soon as possible, so back to Cary we went. Sad day :( We made it there on our second try this past Monday!

What we are looking forward to: The Fall semester starting for Perry's electrical classes; Perry's birthday!; Finding out is Baby Dub is a little boy or a little girl!!!

15 & 16 week belly pictures:

Back-tracking to 14 weeks

How far along: 14 weeks (from July 21, 2011)

Size of baby:

Photo credit: The Bump



Interesting Facts: Week 13- Your baby is now about the size of a peach, measuring just under 3 inches and weighing approximately a full ounce! The most remarkable thing about week 13 is that his little body is finally starting to catch up to his head in size, as his head now only accounts for 1/3 of his total size. If you are having a girl, she will have more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries by week 13.

     Her teeth are in place under her gums, waiting to come out during teething, which can start as early as three months, or as late as twelve months. (Note: Some babies can even have one or two teeth showing when they are born!) Veins and organs are visible through your baby's skin, which is still paper thin and transparent. Her intestines are forming villi, which aid in peristaltic movement and digestion, and her pancreas has even begun to secrete insulin!

     Week 14- By week 14, your baby is around the size of a lemon^, measuring about 3 1/2 inches and weighing 1 1/2 ounces. His body also starts to even out this week, as his arms and head are finally proportionate to the rest of his body. His hands and feet now measure about a 1/2 inch long and are actively punching and kicking inside you. Don't be alarmed if you can't feel this movement, it's too small for you to feel.
     Your baby is also busy making facial expressions by week 14. He can squint his eyes, and his lips can turn into a frown. His neck has grown longer and his chin starts to take shape. His kidneys can produce urine and his liver has begun to produce bile. His spleen has even begun to help in the production of red blood cells.
     Credit: Planning Family

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Up 1 for a total of ~6 lbs. Why is "Loss" even on here?

Maternity Clothes: Mostly regular tops, shorts with the hairtie trick (unbuttoned with a hairtie looped through), and maternity jeans! Sometimes even in those I can't stand any pressure on my lower abdomen.

Gender: We'll know for sure at the end of August! Yes, for sure!! At our 12.5 week genetic screening ultrasound, the doctor asked if we wanted to know the gender. Of course, we both responded immediately with "yes, as soon as we can!". He said "well, I'm 95% sure it's a..." and a few minutes later {after checking out Baby from all angles} he up-ed it to 98%! Incredible!!! Most people aren't able to tell so early; he definitely was at the expert level in our book, so Perry & I are pretty confident in his call. Again, we'll know for sure at our anatomy ultrasound at the end of August :) and will probably be announcing it then.

Movement: Not yet.

What I miss: Deli meat: thinly-sliced turkey sandwiches. I've been dreaming of the sandwiches my Mom used to make me as a kid/teenager.

Sleep: Not bad. Just sleeping a LOT. On Wednesday, I fell asleep for 4 hours while organizing my coupons {on the bed, oops}. Still getting up in the middle of the night to void and get a drink of water, and sometimes even a snack!

Symptoms: Hungry-nausea continues. Breakouts!

Cravings: Nothing in particular. This week I thoroughly enjoyed {a lot of} banana peppers on my kids burger at Remington Grill.

Best moment of the week: Seeing our baby & hearing the heartbeat (154bpm) again in an AWESOME genetic screening ultrasound with a specialist; Telling my Papa and aunts, uncles & cousins on my Dad's side; Scoring some deals from Target's clearance rack: 3 tops & 1 pair of maternity crop jeans for me plus 3 polos & 1 pair of shorts for Perry (that's a total of 8 items) for ~$80!; Watching our kitchen & laundry room come together- my hard-working husband laid tile. Details to come.

What we are looking forward to: Our niece's 8th birthday party next weekend; Finding out for sure if Baby Dub is a HE or a SHE on 8/26!!!

14 week belly pictures:

Behind me is our old dining room table & chairs and our new table & chairs- in the living room- while the kitchen floor reno was underway! We had to make room in the dining room for our fridge, freezer, stove, washer & dryer and all the tile/grout supplies! Chaotic but so worth it!

Back-tracking to 12 weeks

How far along: 12 weeks (from July 7, 2011)

Size of baby:

Photo credit: The Bump

Interesting Facts: Her eyes are now positioned in the front of her face and her ears are in position on the sides of her head. Most notably, reflexes have begun! Your little one's mouth is making sucking movements, her eye muscles clench, her toes curl, fingers and hands open and close, and she may even begin to suck her thumb. Though she is still too little for you to feel, she can feel you. If you were to apply pressure to your abdomen, your baby would squirm in response!
     Her brain has been developing rapidly too. Nerve cells are multiplying, and synapses, or the small junctions across which nerve impulses pass from one nerve cell to another, are forming at an impressive speed. A little lower, her intestines are developing and will soon be moving into her stomach cavity. It's incredible to think how far she has come in just a few short months!
     Credit: Planning Family

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Up ~5 pounds.

Maternity Clothes: Regular tops and shorts, maternity pants.


Gender: Too soon to know! 

Movement: Not yet.

What I miss: Sleeping through the night without getting up to pee a few times; Deli meat sandwiches; Enjoying the smell of coffee brewing {instead, I'm holding my breath quite frequently at work- nurses & doctors love their coffee- and avoiding coffee shops}. 

Sleep: Hello, restless legs. Perry says it's like I'm competing in a triathlon- just the bike part.

Symptoms: Hungry-nausea continues. Occasional mild cramp in L groin (I can't explain this one. My hernia is on my right so I would have expected that instead). Acne.

Cravings: Grapefruit. Egg salad sandwiches.

Best moment of the week: Seeing my Grandma & Grandpa and all my aunts, uncles and cousins from my Mom's side {except Chris, we missed youuu!} in NY... and announcing our news to them!!! We hung out, ate and talked, walked to the park to ride the carousel, drove around town, gambled at the casino & horse race, sat in the park to watch 4th of July fireworks... Perry was finally able to meet my Uncle Alex & Aunt Martha who weren't able to make it down for our wedding. It was a wonderful visit! 

What we are looking forward to: My genetic screening ultrasound (with a specialist) and doctor's appointment (with my regular OB) on Monday.

12 week belly pictures: No picture this week. Oops! We are still getting used to this routine!

Happy Birthday, Little Lauren!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my niece, LAUREN McKENZIE!!!
{I'm a little late... she turned 8 on July 30th}

Back-tracking to 10 weeks

How far along: 10 weeks (from June 23, 2011)

Size of baby:

Photo Credit: The Bump

Interesting Facts: Now, about the size of a prune^, your baby has reached an important developmental milestone. Week 10 is the beginning of the fetal period, in which your baby's organs rapidly mature. This week, his kidneys, liver, heart and intestines are forming tissue. Toenails and hair begin to grow and add detail to your baby's body. Your baby's limbs are now able to flex. His wrists can bend and his hands can meet over his heart. His legs may be long enough for his feet to meet in front of his body. He will even start swallowing and kicking this week, but don't expect to feel anything yet, those movements are still too little.
     Credit: Planning Family

Total Weight Gain/Loss: [I didn't take note]

Maternity Clothes:  My regular clothes, but I do love low-rise knit waistband jeans. The wife of the doctor that my Mom works for gave all of her maternity clothes to another nurse at their office who then passed just about everything on down the line to... me! So nice.

Gender: Too soon to know!

Movement: Not yet.

What I miss: Sleeping through the night without getting up to pee. I used to sleep like a rock all night; Eating like a normal person, not feeling like my stomach is empty every 2 hours!

Sleep: No changes other than getting up to use the bathroom.

Symptoms: The "usual": mild abdominal menstrual-like cramps, sore boobs, a few pimples. Thankfully my nausea (with a little vomiting... 3 times to be exact) has passed. It kicked in bad around 6 1/2 weeks and tapered off by 9. Only now, if I start to feel hungry, I need to eat ASAP or else end up feeling like I could hurl but not actually doing so.

Cravings: Salt & vinegar chips. Only Lays would do- thanks, love!! ;) I know, not good for me or Baby Dub, but in my defense, all I wanted in the weeks prior to now was fruits & veggies: strawberries, mandarin oranges, celery & carrots, salads {Wendy's new Berry Almond Chicken salad is delish}.

What we are looking forward to: Going to NY next week! Finishing the big home improvement projects- mainly the tile floor in the laundry room/office & kitchen so I can start going through everything in the current office/future nursery to clear the room! 

10 week belly picture: Pardon the wet hair/no makeup/scrubs with flip-flops look. I was getting ready for work!

Weeks 4, 6 and 8 Doctors Appointments

1st Bump Picture on the day we found out!!!

I was lucky to get an appointment very quickly after finding out the news! I guess since we had NO idea how far along I was, my ob/gyn wanted to see me as soon as possible.

{Go-go-gadget arm shot} in the parking lot before our first OB appointment!!!

We were so excited to see "our little black dot"!!!

Based on Baby's crown-rump length, it was estimated to be only 4 weeks (gestational age). I was set up to come back exactly 2 weeks later when cardiac activity {a heartbeat!} should be present. At that appointment, Baby measured at 6 weeks 6 weeks, 5 days which gave us a more accurate due date... January 19, 2012! And we heard the heartbeat for the first time!!!

Baby Dub at 6 weeks, 5 days

Me at 6 weeks!

Another 2 weeks later we went back for another check up. Baby Dub changed/grew so much!

Baby's heart rate jumped from 111 bpm to 174 bpm. "They" say if it's <140 = boy and >140 = girl... hmmm. Either way, he/she is healthy!!!

"For you created my inmost being; 
you knit me together in my mother’s womb." 
Psalm 139:13

Employment Anniversary

Yesterday was my 1-year employment anniversary!! It's hard to believe that I have worked as a nurse for The Hospital* for a whole year!! (*No, that is not its actual name. I just don't want to advertise where I work.) I'm very blessed to be employed, to be employed at The Hospital and on my unit; my coworkers on night shift are incredible nurses. They have embraced me as a "newbie" and taught me so much. I look forward to my 2nd year and what God may have in store for me in the future!